At first I did not want to post a reply, for there have been so many questions/answers/reviews regarding the devices you mention, but then I rembered myself having similar questions on equipment of other categories in the past, e.g. DAWs and computers, and yes, forums like this have a function, so here is my answer, which could not satisfy you, but it is just my 2/100 (and not only mine btw.).

Unfortunately none of those little boxes are decent in the sense of proper audio quality. Their circuits are very similar to each other. None of those is outstanding.

The size of the unit has nothing to do with the quality. The MBox has renowned Focusrite pre-amps, and the Firebox will have the same pres as the FirePod, which is a "big" interface (well, not really big, but comparatively speaking, ya know). Size seems like a very silly way to judge quality.

Furthermore, it's incorrect to imply that they have the same circuits, anyhow. There are bound to be certain skeletal similarities, but not necessarily with the chips themselves. They'd be similar in the same way that 2 mixers from the same category would be similar.

Finally, quality is subjective. It depends on your needs. If you're looking at small interfaces, chances are good that like many of us you are recording in a home- or project- studio, meaning that you're not even pretending to have the same resources as a major studio anyhow. I mean that in a good way.

So, rather than saying that "neither" are any good, I would go the exact opposite and say that "either" of them would suit you just fine. I personally like the way the FireBox stacks up on paper (more ins and outs, for starters!), but for me the main thing I'd look into is driver stability. Find out if one or the other has a clear edge in this department, since at the end of the day the features and pres don't amount to a hill of beans if the device isn't getting along with your system.

Definitely an important consideration. Even as a non-PT guy, though, I thought the Mbox package looked pretty attractive. Are all the bundled plug-ins (ie. the Amplitube) only for PTLE, or can they be used in other hosts?

"Little Boxes" was not meant literally. Focusrite preamps don't mean anything. With some exception it means sh... Search for the term "Focuswrong" here on this site. Circuit design, quality of passive and active parts is more important. Chips don't mean anything, btw.

Back at you, attitude. While mine was stated as opinion that was clearly opinion, yours was stated as fact. And then your follow-up post contained no facts. "Chips means nothing"?

It means everything. You're implying that the engineering of the boxes is the same. It is simply not. Try doing some research of your own before you pass off your half-baked opinion as tried-and-true fact.

"All those boxes are the same, get something real" (to paraphrase what you were saying) is the crappiest advice I've ever seen given to someone who asked a very specific question.

Greg, obviously you get more offended than I thought. It seems to me that you actually do not know what you are talking about.

Furthermore it seems that you really do not understand what I say. Please re-read what my first comment was. PLEASE. :wink:

Yes, it is a fact that circuit design is more important than chips and even more important than any f'in brand. Well, at least for the thinking people and those who know what they are talking.
Have you ever thought of why sometimes (actually a lot of times, sometimes :wink: ) the same chip can be found in an 2k and 500 bucks adda converter?

It seems that you never auditioned any of those boxes you comment yourself trying to differ good from bad and you are still talking "digested truth" and but anyways...

See, I do not want to argue with you. Why? Because I do not care. To each his own.

The thread starter's question concerns "quality". That is what he was asking for. I just tried to answer his question and do my best.

And, unlike you, I will not STATE OPINION AS FACT and I will not QUOTE ANY F'ING FEATURE AND SPECS FROM A COMPANY'S AD-SHEET.